Phoebe Atwell’s heart was racing, her pulse quickening with every footstep as she sprinted through the woods, her breath coming in ragged gasps. It was too quiet, too still she kept expecting the sound of engines roaring, of footsteps thundering behind her, but it was just the trees and the darkness closing in around her. She didn’t dare look back. Not yet.

But she didn’t have to. She could feel it. She could feel her presence.

The girl Phoebe loved had loved for as long as she could remember was at her side, always just a step behind, always keeping the danger at bay. When everything had fallen apart, when the world seemed determined to break Phoebe apart, it was her that had stepped in. Her who had pulled Phoebe out of the hell that had become their reality.

“Keep running,” came the voice, low but firm. A command. It wasn’t a question. Phoebe didn’t need to ask why; she didn’t need to understand. She just knew. She was going to make sure Phoebe got out of this.

The two girls had been through hell together. They had survived the chaos that no one else had, fought the terror and the endless dangers that came with the bloodshed. Phoebe had thought, at first, that it was just the adrenaline keeping her close to her, that she was just clinging to whatever felt like safety. But it was more than that now. It was deeper. She’d realized that a long time ago.

When they first met, when everything was falling apart, Phoebe never expected her feelings to grow this strong. It wasn’t just about survival anymore. It was about something more something beautiful, yet terrifying. But here they were, running, fighting, and Phoebe knew she could never leave her behind. No matter what.

“You’ve got this,” the girl said, offering Phoebe a quick but meaningful look before turning her gaze forward again. She was calm, focused, as always, her instincts guiding her through the chaos. Phoebe wanted to say something, anything, but her voice caught in her throat. All she could do was nod, her heart beating loudly in her chest.

They had to move fast. Phoebe’s mind was racing, but all she could think about was how lucky she was to have someone like this by her side. The way she moved with precision, her every action calculated, yet still filled with something more something that Phoebe had come to admire more than she realized. Love, maybe.

They had always been close, even before all this started, but now? Now, it was undeniable. She could see it in the way she looked at Phoebe, in the way she protected her, every second of every day.

“I’ll get you out of here,” the girl said again, and Phoebe could hear the determination in her voice. “Trust me.”

Trust her? Phoebe had trusted her since the first moment they met, and if there was one thing she knew, it was that this girl wouldn’t stop until Phoebe was safe. She never had, and Phoebe could never ask for anything more.

Phoebe pushed herself harder, faster, the world around her a blur as they navigated the forest, the distant sounds of the chaos growing fainter. She barely noticed when they reached a clearing. Her breath was coming in quick, uneven gasps, and her legs burned, but she knew that if they stopped now, it would all be over.

The girl grabbed Phoebe’s hand, her grip tight, her fingers warm and reassuring.

“We’re almost there,” she said, leading Phoebe toward the waiting car hidden just beyond the tree line.

Phoebe’s heart thudded harder in her chest as they reached the vehicle. They were so close to escaping. So close to freedom. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still chasing them, still after them. That maybe, even after all they had been through, they weren’t truly safe.

But the girl her girl was with her. And Phoebe would follow her anywhere.

“Get in,” the girl urged, opening the door. Phoebe didn’t hesitate this time, didn’t second-guess herself. She climbed into the car, watching the girl slide in beside her, her eyes locking onto Phoebe’s.